Wound healing complications following major amputations of the lower limb.

A series of 320 amputations was analyzed with regard to wound healing complications and re-amputation rates. Among 111 AK amputations complications in wound healing were encountered in 14 per cent (15/111) of the cases, leading to re-amputation in 2 per cent (2/111). TK amputations were followed by wound healing problems in 30 per cent (20/66) of the cases with re-amputation in 20 per cent (13/66) at AK level, as compared to 40 per cent (57/143) with wound healing complications and 20 per cent (28/143) re-amputations in BK-amputees. As failure of BK amputation leads to re-amputation at AK level it is recommended that the TK level be selected in doubtful cases.